Here's our chance to accomplish two things:
  • Develop an understanding of the formalities of American law. This will involve understanding a couple of key notions: innocent till proven guilty, and; 'beyond a reasonable doubt.'
  • Appreciate the situation of Galileo and his work, The Dialogues.
Step 1
  • Read the following
    • Crime
      Galileo was charged with violating the 1616 injunction against teaching, defending, or discussing the
      Copernican theory; this carried the possibility of imprisonment and death.
      Roles
      • Judge—Presides over the case, instructs jury, rules on objections
      • Bailiff—Calls court to order, swears in the witnesses, and escorts jury to deliberation room
      • Jury (12 members)—Must decide the question of guilt by a unanimous vote, otherwise a hung jury
      Witnesses
    • For the Prosecution
      • Pope Urban VIII, Leader of the Roman Catholic Church
      • Tommaso Caccini, Dominican Monk
    • For the Defense
      • Galileo Galilei, Defendant and Scientist
      • Benedetto Castelli, Monk and Professor of Mathematics
Step 2
  • Prepare for the trial which will be conducted next class.
  • Those with the roles above are expected to prepare by familiarizing yourself with what you are to say, and what your role is about, i.e. judge to observe trial is conducted correctly and that the jury is instructed on what elements they must decide on the merits of which the prosecution's case resides.
  • Jury: review the trial by researching the case. You and everyone else should also consider another controversial scientific issue that has caused as much controversy. The following are good ideas to conduct some basic ideas.
    • cloning of animals
    • cloning of humans
    • genetic reengineering, genetic screening
    • fertility treatments
    • further research into space
    • radiation of food
    • greatly extending the average life span
Step 3
  • Trial and discussion of it.
  • Discussion of other controversial issues in contemporary science.